Playing Shakespeare

Lysander loves Hermia, and Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius; Demetrius used to love Helena but now loves Hermia. Add some fairies and a donkey, set the production in a neighborhood park and you have Original Practice Shakespeare.

This isn't Ashland's version of A Midsommer Nights Dreame. In fact, we suspect it will be a little bewildering, which is generally the perfect theater art introduction for the kid set. The company interprets First Folios and produce the play in the original Globe Theater manner, which is to say a non-fusty non-academic, physical and accessible entertainment. OPS Fest begins June 13 underneath the St. Johns Bridge in Cathedral Park.

We are curious to see this new-old style of performance, and since all the productions are in parks in the afternoon, if the show proves to be too much for the kiddos then a playground or hill to roll down is close at hand. If our kids can be entertained by dialog-free penguin shows, an hour or two of old English fun shouldn't phase them a bit.